Planning application lodged for 16 unit development in Westport

PLANNING permission has been sought for a 16 unit housing development in Westport on the site of West Vets on the West Road.

Soir Siar Investments Limited, a Dublin-based company have applied for planning permission to construct a housing development consisting of 16 dwellings in single and two storey and detached and semi-detached configurations.

The development will be located on the site on the West Road outside Westport and will include the demolition of the existing West Vets building.

The application was prepared by Castlebar-based planners, The Planning Partnership in association with the scheme designer, Taylor McCarney Architects, PC ROCHE + Associates Landscape Architecture, Alan Lipscombe (Transportation Consultant), CHH (Civil Engineering & Services) and Neo Environmental (Screening for Appropriate Assessment & Natura Impact Statement).

In the planning application, Fintan Morrin of The Planning Partnership stated that there is a substantial housing need in Westport, and the emphasis of the development is on smaller and family units, with an appropriate mix of units.

“The proposed development aims to provide a mix of detached and semi-detached units, in order to achieve a reasonable and defendable density of development on the subject site. Four house types are proposed. Accordingly, the proposed provision of two, three and four bed units, will cater for the majority of the households seeking to purchase a new dwelling, based on the Applicants research of the market.

“This arrangement provides for a wide variety of household types from one person to small and large families. The smaller, single storey units are considered to be particularly beneficial to one to two person households, perhaps retired / elderly type residents, where proximity to the town centre and local amenities would be a major attraction. Accordingly, the proposed mix of housing units is considered to be appropriate, and viable in terms of the market demand in this area.

“The proposed development will thus result in the delivery of a benefit to the town in terms of providing much needed housing in an ideal location,” the planning application read.

The planning application noted that larger housing projects are 'increasingly protracted in terms of delivering through the planning process', while 'smaller sites generally being more readily developable in the short term'.

The site is currently occupied by West Vets, a veterinary practice, which replaced the previous long standing garden centre and is along the main road to Croagh Patrick. It is also located adjacent to the Greenway linking The Quay with the town centre and is also in close proximity to the playground, primary care centre and local schools.

The application was lodged with Mayo County Council on December 22 and the decision is expected by the end of February.